Clean Diesel

VW Diesel Scandal Result of 'Chain of Mistakes'

December 11, 2015
• by Staff

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen.

Volkswagen engineers installed cheat software in their U.S. diesel vehicles because they "quite simply could not find a way to meet the tougher" standards limiting nitrogen oxide pollutants, the company's chairman told reporters this week.

"We are not talking about a one-off mistake, but a whole chain of mistakes," Hans-Dieter Potsch said at a Dec. 10 press conference in Germany that was live-streamed online and translated into English, reports USA Today.

The company has suspended nine engineers in connection with the diesel manipulation. The press conference provided an update to Volkswagen AG's internal investigation that's being led by global law firm Jones Day.

Legislation

Clean Diesel

Volkswagen has gained approval from air regulators of the final modification plan for the remaining vehicles that contain software designed to defeat emissions tests, the California Air Resources Board has announced.

Volkswagen has appointed Matthias Muller, the chairman of Porsche AG, as its new chief executive to replace the departed Martin Winterkorn, and will restructure its North American operations in the wake of a scandal over diesel emissions.

Volkswagen's chief executive said the company is "deeply sorry" and plans to fully cooperate with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in its investigation of the automaker's use of software to get around federal emissions regulations.

The European Commission will require “real world” vehicle emission tests beginning in 2017. Emissions approval for passenger cars in Europe will then include mandatory on-the-road tests using a portable emissions measurement system.